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Started by Name withheld by request
Sat, 05 Jun 2004 01:14
Bush's Erratic Behavior Worries White House Aides
Author: Name withheld by request
Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2004 01:14
Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2004 01:14
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From Capitol Hill Blue
Bush Leagues
Bush's Erratic Behavior Worries White House Aides
By DOUG THOMPSON
Publisher, Capitol Hill Blue
Jun 4, 2004, 06:15
President George W. Bushs increasingly erratic behavior and wide mood
swings has the halls of the West Wing buzzing lately as aides
privately express growing concern over their leaders state of mind.
In meetings with top aides and administration officials, the President
goes from quoting the Bible in one breath to obscene tantrums against
the media, Democrats and others that he classifies as enemies of the
state.
Worried White House aides paint a portrait of a man on the edge,
increasingly wary of those who disagree with him and paranoid of a
public that no longer trusts his policies in Iraq or at home.
It reminds me of the Nixon days, says a longtime GOP political
consultant with contacts in the White House. Everybody is an enemy;
everybody is out to get him. Thats the mood over there.
In interviews with a number of White House staffers who were willing
to talk off the record, a picture of an administration under siege has
emerged, led by a man who declares his decisions to be Gods will and
then tells aides to fuck over anyone they consider to be an opponent
of the administration.
Were at war, theres no doubt about it. What I dont know anymore is
just who the enemy might be, says one troubled White House aide. We
seem to spend more time trying to destroy John Kerry than al Qaeda and
our enemies list just keeps growing and growing.
Aides say the President gets hung up on minor details, micromanaging
to the extreme while ignoring the bigger picture. He will spend hours
personally reviewing and approving every attack ad against his
Democratic opponent and then kiss off a meeting on economic issues.
This is what is killing us on Iraq, one aide says. We lost focus. The
President got hung up on the weapons of mass destruction and an
unproven link to al Qaeda. We could have found other justifiable
reasons for the war but the President insisted the focus stay on those
two, tenuous items.
Aides who raise questions quickly find themselves shut out of access
to the President or other top advisors. Among top officials, Bushs
inner circle is shrinking. Secretary of State Colin Powell has fallen
out of favor because of his growing doubts about the administrations
war against Iraq.
The President's abrupt dismissal of CIA Directory George Tenet
Wednesday night is, aides say, an example of how he works.
"Tenet wanted to quit last year but the President got his back up
and wouldn't hear of it," says an aide. "That would have been the
opportune time to make a change, not in the middle of an election
campaign but when the director challenged the President during the
meeting Wednesday, the President cut him off by saying 'that's it
George. I cannot abide disloyalty. I want your resignation and I want
it now."
Tenet was allowed to resign "voluntarily" and Bush informed his
shocked staff of the decision Thursday morning. One aide says the
President actually described the decision as "God's will."
God may also be the reason Attorney General John Ashcroft, the
administrations lightning rod because of his questionable actions that
critics argue threatens freedoms granted by the Constitution, remains
part of the power elite. West Wing staffers call Bush and Ashcroft the
Blues Brothers because theyre on a mission from God.
The Attorney General is tight with the President because of religion,
says one aide. They both believe any action is justifiable in the name
of God.
But the President who says he rules at the behest of God can also
tongue-lash those he perceives as disloyal, calling them fucking
assholes in front of other staff, berating one cabinet official in
front of others and labeling anyone who disagrees with him unpatriotic
or anti-American.
The mood here is that were under siege, theres no doubt about it, says
one troubled aide who admits he is looking for work elsewhere. In this
administration, you dont have to wear a turban or speak Farsi to be an
enemy of the United States. All you have to do is disagree with the
President.
The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the record.
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/printer_4636.shtml
______________________________________________________________________
"Ain't got no time for the jibber-jabber, fool" - Mr. T
Re: Bush's Erratic Behavior Worries White House Aides
Author: Jean Smith
Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2004 05:35
Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2004 05:35
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On 6/4/04 20:14, in article 1086398074.431102@irys.nyx.net, "Name withheld by request" <anon5c6c@nyx.nyx.net> wrote: > interviews with a number of White House staffers who were willing > to talk off the record, a picture of an administration under siege has > emerged, led by a man who declares his decisions to be Gods will and > then tells aides to fuck over anyone they consider to be an opponent > of the administration I don't believe that he uses the "f" word. He's on the road to conversion. > The President's abrupt dismissal of CIA Directory George Tenet > Wednesday night is, aides say, an example of how he works. Eleanor Clift says that Tenet wants to find a Wall Street job before the committees hang him out to dry in Newsweek.
Re: Bush's Erratic Behavior Worries White House Aides
Author: Michael Chance
Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2004 10:19
Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2004 10:19
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In article <1086398074.431102@irys.nyx.net>, anon5c6c@nyx.nyx.net says... > > From Capitol Hill Blue > > Bush Leagues > Bush's Erratic Behavior Worries White House Aides > By DOUG THOMPSON > Publisher, Capitol Hill Blue > Jun 4, 2004, 06:15 Two points: a. This was posted by the same moron that's been spamming the newsgroups with the "Conservative Idiots" postings for the last few months (this one is spam, as well). b. Capital Hill Blue is a rogue "news" Web site. Based on their own FAQ, it's entirely possible that this "news" story is entirely fictitious, since it doesn't look like they bother with either fact or "source" checking of anything they put up on their site. Michael Chance
Re: Bush's Erratic Behavior Worries White House Aides
Author: Kevin Childers
Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2004 15:29
Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2004 15:29
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Since there seems to be open season, how about this? Please note I do =
not agree with everything sited, and have added comments in italics, =
just trying to be a little balanced.
KC
Food for thought
=20
"Worst president in history?"
=20
There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq during the month of =
January..... In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the =
month of January. That's just one American city folks, about as deadly =
as the entire war torn country of Iraq. =20
I believe at last count St. Louis was listed as having a higher =
crime rate than Detroit, so I assume that means we probably have more =
murders?
The following appeared in the Durham, NC local paper as a letter to =
the editor. Perhaps this will help things in perspective:
Liberals claim President Bush shouldn't have started this war.
They complain about his prosecution of it. One liberal recently =
claimed Bush was the worst president in U.S. history.=20
Let's clear up one point: We didn't start the war on terror. Try =
to remember, it was started by terrorists BEFORE 9/11.=20
Let's look at the "worst" president and mismanagement claims.
FDR... led us into World War II. Germany never attacked us: Japan =
did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost, an average of 112,500 per =
year.
Led, try led the country during a time when most Americans =
didn't want to get involved in another European war. Japans attack on =
the US was a catalyst that changed everything.
Truman... finished that war and started one in Korea, North Korea never =
attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost, an average of =
18,333 per year.
Another dubious claim. The true issue was about the spread of =
communism in Asia and the US commitment to it's allies in the region.
John F. Kennedy... started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam never =
attacked us.
1962, was long after the war in Viet Nam started, it is a key =
mile stone in US participation, but again it harkens back to the same =
reasoning for our involvement in Korea with the added impetuous that =
Communism could spread to neighboring countries far more easily than it =
could from North Korea.
Johnson... turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives =
were lost, an average of 5,800 per year.
The US administration, media, military, et all have to take the =
hit on this.
Clinton... went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent, =
Bosnia never attacked us. He was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a =
platter three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on =
multiple occasions.
Arguable, but what the French have to do with this is a matter =
of small significance. As for the UN, swift action by then can be =
clocked on a geologic scale. =20
In the two years since terrorists attacked us, President Bush has =
liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled al-Qaida, put =
nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran and North Korea without firing a shot, =
and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people.=20
Liberate is a strong word and a stretch, since neither country =
was occupied by an outside force. Crush the Taliban, yes, but al-Qaida? =
Hard to say with any international based irregular warfare operation. =
Libya, started a long time ago. Iran has it's own internal issues to =
include an ongoing liberalization movement counter to the original =
tenants of the Islamic revolution that pushed the Shaw from power. =
North Korea, who can say, there are so many un quantifiable variables =
between there internal issues as well as international shifts in power. =
I think it is a gross mistake to count on any thing involving them.
Worst president in history? Come on! WHO is complaining about how =
long the war is taking?
It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the =
Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51 day operation.
We've been looking for evidence of chemical weapons in Iraq for less =
time than it took Hillary Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing =
records.
It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to =
destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Ted Kennedy to call =
the police after his Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick.
It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in =
Florida!!!!
Our military is GREAT! PASS IT ON.
Thank God for the blessings we are not at war on our USA land! It =
could be here!
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Since there seems to be open season, =
how about=20
this? Please note I do not agree with everything sited, and have =
added=20
comments in italics, just trying to be a little balanced.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>KC</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Food for thought<BR> <BR>"Worst =
president in=20
history?"<BR> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> There were 39 combat =
related=20
killings in Iraq during the month of January..... In the fair city =
of=20
Detroit there were 35 murders in the month of January. That's just =
one=20
American city folks, about as deadly as the entire war torn country of=20
Iraq. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> =
<EM>I believe=20
at last count St. Louis was listed as having a higher crime rate than =
Detroit,=20
so I assume that means we probably have more murders?</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> The following =
appeared in the=20
Durham, NC local paper as a letter to the editor. Perhaps this =
will help=20
things in perspective:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> Liberals claim =
President Bush=20
shouldn't have started this war.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> They complain about =
his=20
prosecution of it. One liberal recently claimed Bush was the worst =
president in=20
U.S. history. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> Let's clear up =
one=20
point: We didn't start the war on terror. Try to remember, it was =
started=20
by terrorists BEFORE 9/11. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> Let's look at =
the "worst"=20
president and mismanagement claims.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> FDR... led us =
into World=20
War II. Germany never attacked us: Japan did. From 1941-1945, =
450,000=20
lives were lost, an average of 112,500 per year.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><EM> =
Led, try=20
led the country during a time when most Americans didn't want to get =
involved in=20
another European war. Japans attack on the US was a catalyst that =
changed=20
everything.</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Truman... finished that war and =
started one=20
in Korea, North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives =
were lost,=20
an average of 18,333 per year.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><EM> =
Another=20
dubious claim. The true issue was about the spread of communism in =
Asia=20
and the US commitment to it's allies in the region.</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>John F. Kennedy... started the =
Vietnam=20
conflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><EM> =
1962, was=20
long after the war in Viet Nam started, it is a key mile stone in US=20
participation, but again it harkens back to the same reasoning for our=20
involvement in Korea with the added impetuous that Communism could =
spread to=20
neighboring countries far more easily than it could from North=20
Korea.</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Johnson... turned Vietnam into a =
quagmire.=20
From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost, an average of 5,800 per=20
year.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><EM> =
The US=20
administration, media, military, et all have to take the hit on=20
this.</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> Clinton... =
went to war in=20
Bosnia without UN or French consent, Bosnia never attacked us. He was =
offered=20
Osama bin Laden's head on a platter three times by Sudan and did =
nothing.=20
Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><EM> =
Arguable,=20
but what the French have to do with this is a matter of small=20
significance. As for the UN, swift action by then can be clocked =
on a=20
geologic scale. </EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> In the two years =
since=20
terrorists attacked us, President Bush has liberated two countries, =
crushed the=20
Taliban, crippled al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran =
and=20
North Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who =
slaughtered=20
300,000 of his own people. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><EM> =
Liberate=20
is a strong word and a stretch, since neither country was occupied by an =
outside=20
force. Crush the Taliban, yes, but al-Qaida? Hard to say =
with any=20
international based irregular warfare operation. Libya, started a =
long=20
time ago. Iran has it's own internal issues to include an ongoing=20
liberalization movement counter to the original tenants of the Islamic=20
revolution that pushed the Shaw from power. North Korea, who can =
say,=20
there are so many un quantifiable variables between there internal =
issues as=20
well as international shifts in power. I think it is a gross =
mistake to=20
count on any thing involving them.</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> Worst =
president in=20
history? Come on! WHO is complaining about how long the war =
is=20
taking?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> It took less time to =
take Iraq=20
than it took Janet Reno to take the Branch Davidian compound. That was a =
51 day=20
operation.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> We've been looking =
for evidence=20
of chemical weapons in Iraq for less time than it took Hillary Clinton =
to find=20
the Rose Law Firm billing records.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> It took less time =
for the 3rd=20
Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard =
than it=20
took Ted Kennedy to call the police after his Oldsmobile sank at=20
Chappaquiddick.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> It took less time to =
take Iraq=20
than it took to count the votes in Florida!!!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> Our military is =
GREAT! PASS=20
IT ON.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> Thank God for the =
blessings we=20
are not at war on our USA land! It could be=20
here! </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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Re: Bush's Erratic Behavior Worries White House Aides
Author: NST
Date: Mon, 07 Jun 2004 21:54
Date: Mon, 07 Jun 2004 21:54
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On Sat, 5 Jun 2004 10:29:23 -0500, "Kevin Childers" <kchilder@mail.win.org> wrote: > >John F. Kennedy... started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us. That statement is akin to saying that Clinton built up the economy and Bush tore it down. Me? I blame the French government's penchant for colonization. In 1945, with an Allied victory apparent, the Japanese interned French troops and civil servants, and assumed the positions of authority they had previously left to the French. They also made some feeble attempts to establish a Vietnamese nationalist government, including offering a nominal grant of independence in order to secure some Vietnamese support. The Japanese appointed Bao Dai to head this "independent" state. Bao Dai had previously been the French-controlled emperor of the southern part of Vietnam. The Japanese didn't have much time or inclination to build support for Bao Dai which meant he was incredibly weak. The Communist victory in China led Washington to exhibit less circumspection in assessing the nature of the political struggle in Vietnam. Anticommunist-fever preempted everything else. Although Washington had never considered Bao Dai capable of delivering national support for his movement, by mid-1949, the Truman Administration began to depict him as a staunch patriot, capable of standing up to Ho Chi Min and worthy of American respect and aid. Seven months before the Elysee Agreements had been ratified, the US indicated its support of the Bao Dai regime. On February 7, 1950, a week after the ratification, the US extended diplomatic recognition to Bao Dai's government. Military support also started. American bombers, military advisors and technicians by the hundreds were to follow. From 1950 to 1954, authorized US aid had reached $1.4 billion and constituted 78 percent of the French budget for the war. The extensive written history of the American role in Indochina produced by the Defense Department, which later became known as the Pentagon Papers, concluded that the decision to provide aid to France "directly involved" the US in Vietnam and "set" the course for future American policy. Please let me restate: From 1950 to 1954, authorized US aid had reached $1.4 billion and constituted 78 percent of the French budget for the war.
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